SXMElections.com

Dear Editor,

For many years now, the various governments in The Hague have had concerns and misgivings about the administration in Philipsburg, at least for as long as I can remember. In the nineties, we were placed under Higher Supervision with the collaboration of the then central government, and the same issues we had then are prevalent today. They even promised to implement a counterpart system, so that when they leave, our people could take over the running of the apparatus properly and smoothly. This was proven to be a farce; we have continually replaced European Dutch with more of their kind and other outsiders, while the locals are charged with teaching to be their bosses.

Today, the catch word has changed from good governance to integrity and the same Dutchmen, who contributed to the problem as we know it, now offer up themselves as the solution. Just to be clear, I truly believe the elected officials should have only one business and that is the business of the people. We all know and recognize that corruption is bad for the county's commercial progress, and that it scares the daylight out of investors. However, we have to do things right, because it's our country, and we are law-abiding citizens, and not on the say-so from The Hague.

If they truly were out to help, they would provide the assistance we asked for and they promised, but no, they use the same request we put in to justify despotic and draconian measures. For the good of me, I don't and can't understand why the politicians in Philipsburg continue to believe a word from the Dutch, only to be disappointed and embarrassed in the end.

While speaking to one of our government members, he informed me how Minister Plasterk had promised to work together in dealing with this integrity issue. I let him know that the adage that all politics is local also applies here, and what this minister might say in Philipsburg surely will change when he gets back to The Hague. He then told me that Plasterk had requested them - after being told that we had put committees in place and passed ordinances to deal with the various reports - not to publish anything and wait for a joint solution.

Surprise, Surprise! When this good gentleman was back in his comfort zone, he said he doesn't believe St. Maarten is taking the reports seriously, so the Kingdom Council of Ministers will impose a general measure (higher supervision) on the country, and de facto put a government of Dutch civil servants with the authority to sideline parliament and the cabinet and report directly to The Hague. They have been saying from the year 2000 that they don't believe St. Maarten should go on her own. They have absolutely no respect for the local electorate and continue to claim they know better than us what is good for us.

As a people, we are being disrespected and our elected officials sidelined at whims and wishes of the Dutch. It's time we take the next step, namely use the right to self-determination to put a stop once and for all to this Dutch dictatorship. The very same people, who are going to all lengths to boot us out of their country, are doing their utmost to re-colonize ours.

Start the debate and stop these people's power grab. Empower your people through education to prepare for going it alone; it is your right. Let's talk "independence"! All trust and respect is gone; the Dutch are resolute in the believe that the kingdom is theirs and they can do as they please.

Elton Jones